Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Honored by Church Leaders at Diocesan Center

15 May 2014

On Tuesday, May 13, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), hosted an
ecumenical gathering at the Diocesan Center in honor of His Holiness Mor
Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, the former Metropolitan of the Syriac Archdiocese of the
Eastern United States who was recently elected as Patriarch of the Syriac
Orthodox Church.

Leaders of the Roman Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Episcopalian, and Eastern
Orthodox churches came together at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral for a prayer
service, followed by a reception to honor Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, visiting New York after having traveled to Rome,
where he met with His Holiness Pope Francis, presided over the gathering.

The assembled church leaders congratulated the new
Patriarch on this latest calling in his ministry, and expressed their
solidarity as he embarks on leading a church that finds itself beleaguered by
the conflict in Syria.

Metropolitan Tikhon, head of the Orthodox Church in America, delivered the invocation,
and Archbishop Barsamian welcomed the clergy to the Diocesan Center. "It is a
great pleasure for me to greet you, on this deeply meaningful occasion," he
said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, in the warm
embrace of our shared Christian heritage—to give physical expression to our
sense of friendship and common mission in the world today."

He went on to speak about Patriarch Ignatius
Aphrem's spiritual leadership in America, and the friendship that has grown
between them. "Throughout these years, I have been privileged to witness his
virtues of energy, spirituality, wisdom, and humility," Archbishop Barsamian
said. "He exemplifies the best qualities of the Christian heritage of the East;
and he has given these virtues exemplary life and vitality here in the West."

Turning to the civil war in Syria, Archbishop
Barsamian said, "through prayer and fellowship, through mutual support and
love—we stand in solidarity with you."

All of the church leaders expressed gratitude for the
presence of Catholicos Karekin II and paid their respects to the leader of the
worldwide Armenian Church.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, thanked
Archbishop Barsamian for his hospitality and reflected on the blessing of
religious freedom people of all faiths experience in the United States. "This
gathering seems particularly appropriate in the radiance of the Easter season,"
Cardinal Dolan said. "And one can sense the spirit of the Risen Christ in this
room—in our fraternity, in our warmth and brotherly love."

Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox
Church in America, expressed his appreciation to Archbishop Barsamian for
the warm welcome and congratulated Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem on his election.
He presented the latter with an engolpion bearing an icon of St. Mary.

Archbishop Demetrios spoke about St. Ignatius of
Antioch—the first century martyr, theologian, and hymnist—whose spirit, he
said, is embodied by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem.

"We are going to miss you," he said to the
Patriarch. "You have a very difficult mission, but be assured that you have our
prayers, our love, and our support."

In introducing His Holiness Karekin II, Archbishop
Barsamian spoke about the Catholicos' work in continuing to revive Christianity
in Armenia after years of Soviet hostility toward the church. He mentioned Holy
Etchmiadzin's emphasis on Christian education and youth programs, which are
making it possible for generations of Armenians to reassert their Christian
heritage.

His Holiness Karekin II spoke about Patriarch
Ignatius Aphrem's commitment to serving God and his people. "We have known him
as a good shepherd, well loved by his flock," he said. "Despite all the
challenges facing Syria, he has no doubt in accepting his new responsibility.
This shows his endless love for the church of Christ and for his people."

He said that the Armenian Church, too, has been
closely following the war in Syria, where there is a sizeable Armenian
population, and mentioned his recent meetings with Russian Orthodox Patriarch
Kirill in Moscow and Roman Catholic Pope Francis in Rome. In both
meetings, the church leaders expressed concerns about the situation in the
Middle East, and specifically in Syria, and discussed ways to bring peace to
the region.

"I want to assure you that you are not alone," His
Holiness Karekin II said. "You will have our full support and our prayers."

He presented Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem with
medallions inscribed with Armenian crosses and etchings of churches. The
Patriarch, in turn, presented the Catholicos with The Chronicles of Michael the Great, a new volume published by the
Syriac Archdiocese.

In a moving valedictory address, Patriarch Ignatius
Aphrem said he is "encouraged and strengthened to know that your prayers are with
me. I hope and pray that my ministry will be of service to all people."

He reflected on the close ties between the Armenian
and Syriac churches, and recalled His Holiness Karekin II's visit to the Syriac
Orthodox Church in America. He added that he looks forward to visiting Holy
Etchmiadzin next year on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

"The courage of those martyrs will always inspire us
and give us wisdom and energy," he said. "Their sacrifice gives us courage to
continue on the same path of martyrdom."

The Patriarch will be formally installed in Damascus
on May 29. He said he will continue to seek ways to promote the work of the
ecumenical movement, and asked that the church leaders in America continue to
support the cause of Christians in the Middle East.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick,
the Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C., delivered a
benediction, in which he underlined the need for common love and understanding
among the various churches.

Other high-ranking clergy in attendance were Archbishop Mor Silvanos Ayup
of the Malankara Syriac Archdiocese;
Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Apostalic Nuncio of
the Roman Catholic Church at
the United
Nations; Bishop Andrew Dietsche, the Episcopal Bishop of New York;
Bishop Makarios of the Eritrean Orthodox Church;
and Bishop William Murphy
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Long Island.

Also in attendance were Very Rev. Dr. James
Kowalski, dean of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine; Rev. Kurt
Dunkle, dean of General Theological Seminary; Rev. Ronald Roberson of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops; Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches; and Warren Clark, executive director of Churches
for Middle East Peace. Accompanying His Holiness Karekin II was the Rev. Fr.
Vahram Melikyan, director of Information Services at Holy Etchmiadzin.